Help for Seniors in Texas

There are 5,123,709 seniors in Texas, representing 18% of the state’s population. About 10% of Texas’ seniors live in poverty, 20% are considered marginally food insecure, 11% are at risk of hunger (food insecure), and 4% are facing hunger. When it comes to social isolation among seniors, Texas ranks 19^th in the country. More information is available at https://www.mowsatx.org/texas-senior-population-statistics. This demonstrates the need to improve the quality of life among seniors by availing the resources and tools they need to live healthy lives free of social problems and food insecurity. Luckily, the state has several programs, services, and organizations that work to better the lives of older Texans. Here are the resources for seniors in Texas.

Retiring in Texas is more affordable than in some states in the United States. To acquire a one-bedroom apartment in the state, seniors will pay an average of $723, which is lower than the national average, of $825. While some seniors can live comfortably in their homes, others may need different living arrangements to thrive. Luckily, there are several living options that seniors can choose from depending on their needs, lifestyles, and circumstances.

Living Options for Seniors in Texas

Independent Living: This senior living option is a perfect choice for older adults who are active and healthy – and would thrive on their own without the need for constant nursing care. They need their own privacy and want to thrive in their own residences. Texas has over 730 independent living facilities, and their costs range between $453 and $4,732 per month. The cost of each facility is largely influenced by location. The Laredo area boasts the most affordable independent living facilities. Expensive communities can be found in the Midland metropolitan area. Most seniors choosing this living option normally go for apartment-style living and can choose between 55+ or 65+ communities. These communities offer amenities, including walkways, pools, Jacuzzis, dog parks, and workout rooms, among others.

Assisted Living: There are over 1,500 assisted living facilities in Texas, with costs ranging between $825 and $8,605. This living arrangement is suitable for seniors who need help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These facilities have attentive caregivers who offer laundry services, meal services, transportation, and housekeeping, among others. The communities are always supervised all the time to ensure residents are safe.

Memory Care: Memory care facilities are for older adults with diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. There are more than 1,100 memory care facilities with costs averaging $61,291 a year. Midland metropolitan area has the most expensive facilities, and the Laredo area boasts some of the most affordable ones. Seniors in these facilities receive help with their daily tasks, including grooming, bathing, taking medications, and feeding. They also get helped to manage the stress and frustrations that come with dementia and related memory ailments. Memory care facilities can be expensive, but they are worth the charges if a senior loved one is suffering from dementia. It is important to note that the Medicare program does not cover these services. So, older adults should know their insurance options, including what’s covered and what’s not covered.

Nursing Homes: Nursing homes are for older adults with chronic infections who need constant care. These facilities are 1,215 in number in Texas and have skilled nursing professionals to care for the residents. Older adults living in this kind of arrangement can choose a private or semi-private room, whose costs vary. A private nursing room in Texas costs an average of $6,388, while a semi-private room’s price averages $5,019 per month.

Financial Assistance for Seniors in Texas

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): TANF Can provide financial support to low-income older adults to help them buy food, pay utility and housing bills, acquire clothing, phone services, laundry services, and medical supplies, among others. To qualify, the senior applicant must be caring for a minor below 18 years, meet the low-income limits, and have qualifying asset value. More information is available at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/financial/cash/tanf-cash-help.

Housing Assistance for Seniors

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program: The purpose of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is to help seniors pay their rent by subsidizing their monthly rental payments. The program allows low-income seniors to contribute about 30% of their income as the government settles the rest of the arrears. Older adults are to choose a housing unit in one of the HUD-approved areas and must meet the set safety and quality standards. More information is available at https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance.

The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA): Administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), PRA is dedicated to proving housing support to low-income seniors linked with long-term services. The program is a result of a partnership with TDHCA, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and qualified multifamily properties. The program creates the opportunity for seniors and those with a disability to live independently in their homes by availing of voluntary services and offering a couple of rental housing options. This program is not available everywhere in the state. Find out where the program is available.

Home Repair Assistance for Seniors

USDA’s Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Texas: Also known as Section 504 Home Repair program, this program offers up to $10,000 in home repair grants designed to help senior homeowners deal with health and safety hazards in their homes. To qualify for the program assistance, seniors must be at least 62, provide homeownership proof and occupy the house, be unable to get affordable credit elsewhere, and meet low-income limits in Texas. The grants are not repaid unless the senior homeowner sells or changes the ownership of the property within three years of receiving the financial support. visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants/tx for more details.

Habitat for Humanity Texas: Habitat for Humanity Texas offers construction and home repair services to low-income older adults in need of emergency home improvement needs. The goal is to help seniors age well in place by getting rid of health and safety hazards in their homes. The organization work with local partners to offer seniors affordable housing and home repair services. Texas has Habitat for Humanity affiliates spread throughout the state. Read more about the program at https://habitattexas.org/find-your-local-affiliate/.

Healthcare Assistance for Seniors

Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program: This program was created to provide the necessary support through information, counseling, and helping Medicare senior beneficiaries. Through the program, older adults can successfully enroll in the program and find all the information they need about their options, allowing them to make the right choice, depending on their needs and circumstances. The program was established as a result of a partnership between the Texas Legal Services Center and the Texas Health and Human Services System. Area Agencies on Aging are responsible for training and overseeing the work of certified counselors throughout the state. Under the program, services include:

• Information and education on Medicaid and Medicare programs.
• Support with eligibility, enrolment process, benefits, and rights to Medicare’s original plan.
• Inform seniors about the benefits of the Medicare Supplemental insurance policy.
• Provide information and help with the enrollment process for the Medicare Advantage (Part C).
• Explain to seniors about Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) insurance coverage.
• Help with long-term care insurance services.

Through this partnership, older adults will get all the support they need. The certified counselors are trained to help seniors understand all the healthcare options they have, and find one that perfectly works for them. they act as older adults’ advocates to help them get the services they need. Find out more at https://www.tlsc.org/hicap.

Medicare Savings Programs: The purpose of these programs is to help older Texans pay for all or part of their Medicare monthly payments, co-pays, and deductibles.

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): QMB helps senior Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Part A and Part B premiums, coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments. Income limits include up to $1,113 for an individual applicant and $1,526 for a senior couple. Resource limits range between $7,970 and $11,960.
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB): For this program, senior applicants must be entitled to Medicare Part A. Other eligibility requirements include, not being Medicaid beneficiaries, income limits for an individual applicant should range between $1,133.01 and $1,359. Senior couples should have incomes ranging from $1,526.01 and $1,831. Resource limits range between $7,970 and $11,960.
• Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals Program (QDWI): Applicants must be entitled to Medicare Part A, meet age limits, be at least 65, and not receive Medicaid benefits. Income and resource limits for individual senior applicants are $2,265 and $4,000, respectively. Senior Couple’s income and resource limits are $3,052 and $6,000, respectively.
• Low-Income Subsidy: Also known as the Extra Help program, Low-Income Subsidy is offered under the Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D), and is dedicated to helping low-income older adults with their prescription medicines costs.

More information is available at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicare.

Medicaid for the Elderly & People with Disabilities: The MEPD program is dedicated to providing medical coverage for seniors and older adults with disabilities who don’t have health insurance. To qualify for the program assistance, the elderly Texans must provide proof of state residency and U.S. citizenship or qualified non-citizen. Factors such as income, age, and disability status are all put into consideration when determining eligibility. Heal services covered under MEPD are:

• Regular medical checkups.
• Medicine and vaccines.
• X-rays and lab tests
• Vision and hearing services.
• Mental health care services.
• Special health needs.

Senior and older adults with disabilities may also qualify for long-term care support services:

• Personal and home care, like assigning caregivers and healthcare professionals to look after eligible seniors.
• Nursing home care services.
• Mental health services.
• Caring for seniors with intellectual disabilities in a safe setting.

For more details, please visit https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip/medicaid-chip-programs-services/programs-children-adults-disabilities/medicaid-elderly-people-disabilities.

Food Assistance for Seniors

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP is dedicated to helping seniors buy nutritious food items their bodies need to age healthy and strong. Eligible older adults may use their SNAP benefits to purchase garden seeds. The benefits are put in Lone Star Card, which seniors can use as the normal credit card at any store participating in the program. Older adults cannot use the benefits to buy tobacco, alcoholic drinks, or things they can’t eat or drink. The benefits must not be used to settle food bills seniors owe. Learn more at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/food/snap-food-benefits.

Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP) for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): The purpose of the TSAP program is to provide SNAP benefits to households where all members are either living with disabilities or are 60+. The level of assistance is based on income and the size of the household. No household member should have an earned income, meaning no one should be working in the household. Read more about the program at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/food/snap-food-benefits/texas-simplified-application-project-tsap-snap-food-benefits.

Transportation Assistance for Seniors

Being unable to afford transportation services can make the lives of seniors difficult. Fortunately, there are programs and services designed to help seniors get their medical appointments, and shopping centers, pick up their prescription drugs or have access to socialization opportunities.

Medical Transportation Program: Medicaid beneficiaries can have access to non-emergency medical transportation services, including free rides to doctors’ offices, dentist’s offices, hospitals, pick prescription medication, or any other transportation needs to acquire healthcare services. These services are offered through taxis, public transportation, or commercial transit services. Other services may include funding for gas access and payment of transportation services to a neighboring state, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or New Mexico. Only Medicaid beneficiaries and participants of the Transportation for the Indigent Cancer Patients can have access to these services. It is important to book an appointment with a doctor or healthcare provider and then call at least two business days in advance. Those outside the country should call at least five business days before their appointment day to get free rides to their destinations. The calls can only be made on weekdays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm local time. More information is available at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip/medicaid-chip-members/medical-transportation-program.

Help Paying Bills

The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP): CEAP is dedicated to helping low-income older adults meet their immediate home energy bills and encourage them to control their energy costs in the future by educating them on how to become responsible. The program helps eligible low-income seniors with their heating or cooling costs, settling up to six-digit arrears for households considered vulnerable. To qualify for the program support, older adults must be residents of Texas. Program participants of SSI or Means Tested Veterans program payments are automatically eligible for the program assistance. One must also meet low-income requirements. Learn more about the program at https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1579.

Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): The purpose of LIHWAP is to help low-income senior homeowners with their water bills. The program does not offer direct grants to eligible low-income older adults. They work with nonprofits and government agencies that then deliver the services to qualified older adults. Please find more details at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/lihwap.

Assistance for Senior Veterans

Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) Grant Program: The purpose of this program is to fund eligible charitable organizations, local government agencies, and Veterans Service Organizations dedicated to offering direct services and programs to senior veterans and their loved ones. Grant-funded services can include clinical counseling, employment support, financial support, home repairs, homeless veterans support, referral services, transportation programs and services, and Veteran Treatment Courts. https://www.tvc.texas.gov/grants/ provides more details.

Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TV+FA) Grant Program: The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality of life of senior veterans in Texas as well as their loved ones. The goal of the program is to increase access to and improve the availability of mental health services and treatments. Services can include:

• Evidence-based therapies and treatments.
• Peer support services.
• Counseling services.
• Suicide prevention programs.
• Housing, financial, and transportation services.
• Case management and referral services.

More information is available at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/texas-veterans-family-alliance-grant-program.

VA Benefits for Senior Veterans: The federal government runs town programs to provide additional support to senior veterans, including:

• Aid and Attendance (A&A): offers increased monthly pension for seniors in need of assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), who are bedridden, and are residents of nursing home care facilities.
• Housebound: Designed to offer increased pensions to older adults confined in their homes because of permanent disabilities.

Learn more at https://benefits.va.gov/pension/aid_attendance_housebound.asp.

VA Health Care Support for Senior Veterans: VA runs a program to provide health care support to senior veterans, including geriatrics programs, long-term care services, home-based and community services, nursing home, and residential care services, and geriatrics research. More details are available at https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-elderly.asp.

Assistance for Seniors by Charities and Nonprofits

Care & Prepare: The mission of Care & Prepare is to stimulate the end of life conservations through education. They mainly work under ”Let’s Talk,” their core program. Read more at https://www.careandprepare.org/giving.html.

Coalition for Aging LGBT: The mission of this organization is to enhance the quality of life among senior members of the LGBT community. Their focus is on housing, advocacy, financial security, healthy, and social services. The organization’s program development involves events that reduce social isolation and offering training to retirement communities under the LGBT-Friendly Senior Housing Guide. Read more at http://www.cfa.lgbt/.

For Love & Art (FL&A): The goal of this organization is to improve the art experience among seniors with limited mobility while encouraging caregivers to show love in creative ways. FLA operates under one core program, Celebrating the Art Experience, dedicated to enhancing psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual. And the physical quality of life among older adults. Learn more about the program at https://www.forloveandart.org/.

Good Samaritan Society: Good Samaritan’s mission is to share God’s love by offering health and healing services to older adults. The organization’s programs include a benevolent care fund, designed to support older adults who’ve outlived their incomes, and a wellness program committed to enhancing the physical health of seniors through exercises. More details are available at https://www.good-sam.com/.

Guardian Services, Inc (GSI): GSI is dedicated to offering services and support to older adults at risk in Tarrant County through guardianship management, a money management program, and financial exploitation prevention program. More information is available at https://www.guardianshipservices.org/.

Hearts for Homes (H4H): The goal of H4H is to enhance the living conditions among low-income older adults who must meet the age limitation (at least 60) to qualify for assistance. Services include free home repair services, case management, and Christmas Baskets. Christmas Baskets have non-perishable food items and durable goods to take seniors through holiday celebrations. More information is available at https://www.heartsforhomes.org/.